Sacramento wants cabbies to clean up their act

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Saying taxi drivers are ambassadors for the city, Sacramento officials are proposing sweeping new rules to force cabbies to clean up their act.

The Sacramento Bee says the proposed ordinance approved Tuesday by a City Council committee would require drivers to wear collared shirts, slacks and closed-toe shoes. They must drive newer vehicles and keep them cleaner. They must accept credit cards. And they will be required to take a test to prove they can speak some English and count change correctly.

The proposal has drawn support from Yellow Cab and other large taxi operators, as well as from hotels and downtown convention executives.

But some firms don't like the proposed rules, saying they could drive smaller operators out of business.

The full council is expected to take up the issue within the next two months.